SPORT 26 THE WEEKEND NEOS KOSMOS | SATURDAY 3 DECEMBER 2016 DIGITAL.NEOSKOSMOS.COM Melbourne City creates history with FFA Cup final win GOERGE STOGIANNOU There was a lot of love on display at AAMI Park after the final whistle in Wednesday's night's FFA Cup final, as Melbourne City supporters and team celebrated and shared the joy of the club's historic first trophy win following a tough, hard-fought win against Sydney FC. As he's done so often in his long and distinguished career, Tim Cahill, who is a week shy of his 37th birthday, provided the decisive moment in what was an even battle between the top two A-League teams. Immediately prior to kick off, the two sets of players, together with the crowd of over eighteen thousand, observed a minute's silence commemorating the victims of the Colombian plane crash tragedy which killed 71 people, including most of the travelling Chapecoense football team from Brazil, on its way to its own final. It was in stark contrast to the battle which followed, from a scything Luke Bratten opening tackle on former Melbourne City player Michael Zullo, which sparked an allin melee in the opening minutes, through a tense scoreless first half played at tempo, with both defences standing firm. Both teams pressed high up the park, with most approaches to goal coming from the flanks. Both sides favoured a 4-3-3 formation, with two defensive midfielders shielding the back four. Former Boca Junior player Nicholas Colazo started for City ahead of Manny Muscat, at left back and his crosses from open play and set pieces provided a couple of half chances to PHOTO: AAP/JULIAN SMITH. Cahill and Fornaroli through the air. Sydney too managed a number of crosses into the box but was unable to find targets. Brazilian striker Bobo provided its only shot on goal in the first half when his shot from distance flew into the arms of City keeper Dean Bouzanis. For City, a timely tackle by the excellent Michael Jakobsen snuffed out a Milos Ninkovic opening in the box, late in the half. Both sides came out unchanged after the break. Sydney threatened briefly when skipper Brosque took a touch in the box and fired sharply but again straight at Bouzanis. Minutes later came the decisive moment when City took a short corner and fullback Ivan Franjic crossed to the far post. Leaning back between two tall de- fenders, Cahill judged the flight of the cross perfectly, timing his jump to guide his header inside the far post and into the net past Sydney FC keeper Danny Vukovic, capped off by his trademark corner flag celebration. Minutes after play had resumed, Cahill lay prone on the turf, holding his knee following a Josh Brilliante tackle, which eventually forced him out of the match, re- placed by Caceres. City central defender Jakobsen proved his worth once more with a goal line clearance of a goal bound Bobo header, while Brosque sliced a chance wide of the target. With the gaming becoming increasingly stretched, the visitors had a strong appeal for a late penalty foul on Brosque turned down, while at the other end keeper Vukovic produced two solid saves to deny Bratten and Fornaroli. The final whistle sparked scenes of jubilation for the home team and the fans. After the match both coaches agreed the final was more of a fight than an exhibition of outstanding football quality. Congratulating Melbourne City on its first trophy win, Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold said: "In general play it was an even contest. It was always going to be a game where it was going to be a 50-50 moment and they took their chance and we didn't. "They've obviously come a long way from their Melbourne Heart days and it shows. The backing that they've got, obviously spending the money that they've spent, they're moving forward in leaps and bounds," he said of Melbourne City. "It was a game that was not the best game," City coach John Van’t Schip commented post-match. "From the start, the first five minutes, you could see that the tension was there. Players really wanted to win this final. That was all about it, because they wanted it so bad that the football was at times not the best. [Winning the cup] is also a reward for the fans. Don't forget they've been waiting for this for a long time as well. I'm happy to see after the game, the way they celebrated with the players and so many happy faces." The coach thanked his immediate family, both here and in Holland, for their support and reflected: "But I also think of Cruyff and his legacy − the football philosophy he left behind. I want to contribute to the way he wanted to play football and I think we're making those steps here as well." Both Cup finalists will resume their battle when they meet again in 10 days, this time in a league match in Sydney. Socceroos to meet powerhouse nations in 2017 Confederations Cup Εργασία Employment Θέσεις Εργασίας Seeking Employment "JOB SEEKER – ADMINISTRATION /ARCHIVING. I am looking for casual freelance administration and archiving work. I have three years' experience in office administration and archives jobs. These have involved boxing, archiving and cataloguing records, as well as word processing and data entry. Please contact William on 0418 100 029. The 2018 World Cup finals in Russia may seem a long way off, but the Socceroos will get a taste of the real thing in June next year, when they travel to Russia to take part in the Confederations Cup, which brings together the champions of FIFA's six continental confederations, plus the hosts of the next World Cup and the current World Cup holders. The draw for the group stage took place last Sunday, and Australia finds itself in the more difficult group, with current World Cup holder Germany, Copa America holder Chile and the yet to be determined African Nations Cup champion. CLAYTON SOUTH /CLARINDA. 2BR Over 55's Retirement Unit. Ducted heating and cooling. $269,000. Phone Graeme 0412 651 528. The other group contains current UEFA champion Portugal, Concacaf champion Mexico, Oceania Football champion New Zealand and hosts Russia. For Australia, the tournament comes in the middle of its Asian World Cup qualifying campaign, which has currently stalled some- what following three consecutive draws, the latest of which was against bottom of the group Thailand. Recent results mean the Socceroos slip from 40th to 48th in the world rankings. Rather than being a distraction, the Confederations Cup tournament gives the Socceroos boss and his team the opportunity to spend more time training together and the invaluable experience of tournament competition against some of the best teams in the world. In Germany and Chile it will face two of the teams in the top five. "We've earned the right to play in the Confederations Cup by winning the Asian Cup, and as champions of Asia we now look forward to testing ourselves against some of the best nations in world football," coach Ange Postecoglou said. While Postecoglou as Socceroos coach has yet to face African opposition, he has previously coached the Socceroos against Germany and, in the 2014 World Cup, against Chile, when the Socceroos won a lot of respect in a creditable 1-3 loss in an opening group match. Commenting on each of these three opponents, Postecoglou said of Chile: "One of the great teams in the world of recent times who continue to impress with fantastic players who are very much at their peak. They'll be a good test for us. They played well at the last World Cup and it'll be interesting to see how both teams measure up." On Germany, Postecoglou said: "Always a major player in major tournaments and I've no doubt this will be the same. They are sort of regenerating their team a little but they've started World Cup qualification strongly. We played them recently in a friendly but to play them in a major tournament is an exciting prospect. And our continued growth as a nation will only come when we play against the very best." And on the yet to be determined African nation, the Socceroos boss said: "We know how tough it is to win an African Cup of Nations, so whichever team it is, it'll be a good test. And obviously we haven't played African opposition in quite a while. There's no doubt there'll be some pretty exciting games in this group." THE SOCCEROOS FIXTURES IN THE 2017 CONFEDERATIONS CUP: Australia v Germany: 20 June Australia v African Nations Cup winner: 23 June Australia v Chile: 26 June Australia’s previous record in the Confederations Cup: * 1997 runners-up − defeated 6-0 by Brazil in the final * 2001 third place − defeated 1-0 by Japan in the semi-final, then beat Brazil 1-0 in the third-place playoff * 2005 group stage exit − defeated in all three group stage games, losing 4-3 to Germany, 4-2 to Argentina and 2-0 to Tunisia